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First things first, I AM NOT GOING TO SELL/DISTRIBUTE ANY RECASTS THAT I MAKE.

I am going to sculpt some symbols onto some shoulder pads for my space marines using green stuff. What I'm asking is if I can cast these in resin to use again and again, with out breaking any laws, is this a breach of copyright.
GW does not lose any money, I still have to buy the kits so I don't see what the problem is.

So is it legal or not?

As long as the symbols in question are your own work and not someone else's work, then casting for your own use is fine.

Edit: to elaborate, your symbols, your designs, nothing from anyone else's IP is fine to duplicate for personal use.

If its just the symbols you are casing then there is no issue, its your work. If however you were casing the entire shoulder pad with the symbol ontop then that may be a problem.

K thanks guys

In the UK, you also might consider poking the hornets nest and applying for a License of Right:

http://www.ipo.gov.uk/types/design/d-about/d-designright/d-designright-licence.htm

Honestly, about 90% of GWs designs would be expired, but it would be fun to watch GWs response and how they handled a formal petition for mediation on the Design Right.

I would myself, but have been told by the nice lady at the IPO that I need to either have a business in the UK or live there to petition after GW ignored my request for License of Right.

Peredyne wrote:
As long as the symbols in question are your own work and not someone else's work, then casting for your own use is fine.

Edit: to elaborate, your symbols, your designs, nothing from anyone else's IP is fine to duplicate for personal use.

Also depends on the rights/reproduction permission set by the original artist. Some say non-profit use is a-o-k, others will sue you for everything including your unborn first child.

I would probably file it under 'copying cassette tapes', or CDs even. Everyone does it for themselves, technically I guess it's illegal but really if you're only using it for yourself then the likelihood of a) anyone giving a damn or b ) getting caught, seems extremely small.

And I am sure I read somewhere here on Dakka that GW cannot claim copyright on the design of the shoulderpad itself - so....
Your design of symbol is your copyright, they can't claim the basic design of the shoulderpad, so go ahead, no-one can stop you.

Even if that is not the case, personal use - even if technically illegal, is not worth the time and effort for them to take action on. And most of the time it comes under "Fair use" and they couldn't do anything about it anyway.

So long as you are doing what you say and not selling it, they would have a long, expensive battle to drag you to court and most judges would then throw it out anyway - possibly fining GW for wasting court time into the bargain.

 Pacific wrote:
I would probably file it under 'copying cassette tapes', or CDs even. Everyone does it for themselves, technically I guess it's illegal but really if you're only using it for yourself then the likelihood of a) anyone giving a damn or b ) getting caught, seems extremely small.

Actually, it's perfectly legal, at least here in the U.S., to make copies of cassettes or LPs or CDs that you own for your own use. Distribution, whether it's giving a copy away, selling, whatever, is where you cross the line into piracy.

In the uk we're not supposed to record from the radio as that breaks laws and I think making copies of cd's is illegal too.
Also we aren't allowed to use localised radio broadcast devices as they contravene pirate radio laws, so for those of us with a 5 ft radio transmitter for an ipod its technically illegal.

Technically as far as I am aware.

Or you just do it and dont give a damn about what anyone says As long as you dont sell them i wouldnt care! I have used Cmons instamould to mould my own parts from existing kits for ages and saved alot of money.

 The Deathless Host wrote:
First things first, I AM NOT GOING TO SELL/DISTRIBUTE ANY RECASTS THAT I MAKE.

I am going to sculpt some symbols onto some shoulder pads for my space marines using green stuff. What I'm asking is if I can cast these in resin to use again and again, with out breaking any laws, is this a breach of copyright.
GW does not lose any money, I still have to buy the kits so I don't see what the problem is.

So is it legal or not?

Who's going to know if you don't tell them? You'd only be caught out if you did something like sell shed loads of them or if you showed up at an event with unpainted marines sporting funny coloured pads that were otherwise identical in shape and size to official ones.

If you're going to cast, then you can do things like grenades and pouches too to customise your marines. You might even decide to customise a helmet and give all your marines a unique helmet.

For personal use I find these wise words help - Don't ask don't tell.

 Mr. Burning wrote:
For personal use I find these wise words help - Don't ask don't tell.

^^^^ this x 1000 ^^^^

With the first post of this thread, all those who have read it can conceivably be considered to have conspired in breaking copyright. Even me. Yes, the law is that messed up and skewed towards those with money

And, while copying of music media is widespread - whether it's taping from the radio, copying CD's or ripping mp3's, it's still very much illegal - even for your own use.
You don't have the express permission of the copyright holder and they aren't going to give it to you. You want another copy? Go buy it, you cheapskate. That musician's new yacht won't buy itself, y'know.

And I am sure I read somewhere here on Dakka that GW cannot claim copyright on the design of the shoulderpad itself - so....
Your design of symbol is your copyright, they can't claim the basic design of the shoulderpad, so go ahead, no-one can stop you.

Even if that is not the case, personal use - even if technically illegal, is not worth the time and effort for them to take action on. And most of the time it comes under "Fair use" and they couldn't do anything about it anyway.

So long as you are doing what you say and not selling it, they would have a long, expensive battle to drag you to court and most judges would then throw it out anyway - possibly fining GW for wasting court time into the bargain.

Considering that GW seemed desperate to claim the mere words 'space marine' as their own trademark, no less than a year ago, you can bet that they'll be keen to keep any physical part of their miniatures as their own copywritten property. So yeah, make it known that you're copying shoulderpads, and you'll get something in the post from GW's legal vultures - and it won't be a gift box of Tyranids.

If its for personal use, and you don't tell anyone who may be upset (ie. GW staff) i doubt anyone would complain, or even realise you had done it.